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Matthew's Auto Repair Blog

By Matthew Wright, About.com Guide to Auto Repair

Are you padding your brake pads?

Friday December 8, 2006
As you pull up to the stoplight you hear a deafening screech. It's either the flock of pterodactyl that escaped from Jurassic Park or it's time to replace your brake pads. You should go ahead and take care of it before you start getting those dirty looks in the supermarket parking lot. You know the looks, first they turn their heads in fear as they hear the horrific squeal coming from your wheels, then they look up at you like you've been pulling the arms off of little girls' dolls.

It's easy to replace your brake pads. You can knock it out in a short afternoon, saving precious time and money in the process. Let them go too long and those screeches will turn into low grinding sounds. It may not sound like coins in a fountain, but that grinding is the sound of the man at the brake repair place throwing your wallet in the street! If your brakes start to grind it can damage your brake rotors, those spinning shiny discs. Rotors aren't cheap to replace. So install some new brake pads for safety's sake! Follow me.

Comments

January 4, 2007 at 8:02 pm
(1) Harry says:

That flock of pterodactyls has been seen in southern California.

January 4, 2007 at 8:05 pm
(2) And the Hendersons says:

Yeah, Ive seen em. They swoop down and take the ice cream right out of your cone.

January 5, 2007 at 1:08 am
(3) autorepair says:

I think they also scoop up chihuahuas.

January 6, 2007 at 4:33 pm
(4) dave says:

i have been told that brake pads are spring loaded and to remove them with a philips head screwdriver for the sake of your fingers… anyone shed any light on this?

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